There are some fine parks in northern towns, a legacy of the wealth created by the textile industry. They're typically close to town centres in areas that are increasingly predominantly Asian. Despite the police's desperate reassurances about "low levels of crime", these glorious open spaces are seen increasingly as no-go areas by the white population. Muggings are common, with the perception of perpetrators disproportionately Asian and victims white. It's hard not to conclude there is at least some racial motivation in these crimes. I suspect the police have commissioned surveys showing the attitude of the white population and are aware of the "community tensions" created. They issue the same sort of press release after every incident - always seeking to minimise the significance of the crime.